Therapy Groups at Bethel Park
Growth Happens in Good Company
Inspiring
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Committed
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Growing
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Caring
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Inspiring 〜 Committed 〜 Growing 〜 Caring 〜
Some of the most meaningful growth happens alongside other people.
At South Hills Counseling and Wellness, our groups give children, teens, and adults a place to practice the skills that are hard to build alone, whether that means naming a feeling out loud, sitting with frustration, or trusting that a room full of peers is a safe place to be yourself.
Our Bethel Park office is our main location and home to our art therapy program. Groups here are intentionally small, warmly facilitated, and designed so every participant has room to try something new. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or any particular skill to belong in one of our groups. You just need to be ready to show up.
Why Group Work Helps
Individual therapy gives a client a private space to be understood. Group therapy gives them a live setting to practice being understood by others. Both matter, and for many children and teens, the two work best together.
Groups can stand on their own or run alongside individual therapy. If your child already sees a therapist here, we are happy to coordinate so that group work supports the goals you are already working toward.
In a well-facilitated group, participants get something that cannot be recreated one-on-one:
Real-time practice with peers, where social skills are used rather than just discussed
The relief of realizing they are not the only one who feels this way
Natural opportunities to tolerate frustration, wait a turn, and recover from a small setback
Feedback and encouragement from people their own age, which often lands differently than it does from an adult
A predictable weekly rhythm that builds confidence session over session
CURRENT GROUPS
Art Therapy Groups for Ages 6 to 13
Overview & Purpose
Our Art Therapy Groups are process-oriented groups that give participants the opportunity to develop and strengthen interpersonal relationships, self-regulation, and self-esteem. Using art, play, music, and experiential learning, participants build creativity, resilience, and adaptability. Each group is intentionally designed to provide a gentle, safe learning environment that creates space and opportunity for meaningful skill-building.
The focus is on the process, not the product. There is no artistic skill required and no such thing as doing it wrong. What matters is what happens while a participant is making something: the choices they make, the frustration they work through, and the connection they build with the peers around the table.
Who These Groups Are For
Art is a powerful medium for building connection and bridging differences. These groups are not limited to a specific diagnosis or presenting need.
Participation requires the ability to:
Engage in group independently
Maintain verbal and physical safety throughout the session
Adhere to basic group boundaries
If you are unsure whether a group is the right fit for your child right now, call us. We would rather talk it through with you than have you guess.
Group Objectives
Across all three groups, participants will:
Build social skills through play, art, and integrated interventions
Increase social awareness
Build emotional identification skills
Increase confidence and the ability to build peer relationships
Increase frustration tolerance
Build the creativity and resilience needed to navigate stress, anxiety, and conflict
Learn how to identify and maintain healthy relationships
Interventions are adjusted for developmental stage. The youngest group leans more heavily on play, while the oldest group spends more time on art making and peer discussion.
Group Structure
Each group follows a consistent structure that includes art making, discussion, games, and opportunities to reflect and share with peers. This predictable format provides numerous opportunities for every participant to try new things and build upon their skills in a variety of ways.
Sessions run 90 minutes. Because the structure repeats week to week, participants know what to expect, which frees up their attention for the harder and more rewarding work of connecting with others.
Group Times by Age
Three groups run on Saturdays at our Bethel Park office, each grouped by age so the material and the peer mix fit where participants are developmentally.
| Group | Ages | Day and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 6 to 8 years | Saturdays, 9:00 to 10:30 AM |
| Group 2 | 9 to 11 years | Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Group 3 | 12 to 13 years | Saturdays, 1:30 to 3:00 PM |
Details for All Three Groups
| Detail | All Three Groups |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 19 to November 21, 2026 (10 weekly sessions) |
| Group Size | Limited to 5 participants |
| Cost | $20 per session, or $200 for the full 10 week series |
| Facilitated By | Jennie August, LPC, ATR-BC, and Peyton Corsetti, Art Therapy Intern, Seton Hill University, supervised by Jennie August, LPC, ATR-BC |
| Location | Bethel Park Office, 101 Drake Rd., Ste. E, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 |
| Register | Call 412-945-0692 or email info@southhillscounseling.com |
Groups are limited to five participants, so spots fill quickly. We recommend calling early if you have a specific age group in mind.
Meet Your Facilitators
Jennie August, LPC, ATR-BC
Jennie August is a Board Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with children and teens. She holds a degree in Art Therapy with a Specialization in Counseling from Seton Hill University along with a certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her work draws on Art Therapy, Child Centered Play Therapy, Expressive Arts Techniques, and Client Centered Therapy.
Jennie’s goal as a therapist is to build relationships, help foster connection, develop a safe environment, and maintain space for her clients to build creativity, confidence, hope, and acceptance to reflect, adapt, and grow within their world.
“I love providing an environment where a client can make intentional and independent choices within their creative process. It allows space for processing, reflection, learning and connection.”
Peyton Corsetti, Art Therapy Intern
Peyton Corsetti is an Art Therapy Intern from Seton Hill University, supervised by Jennie August, LPC, ATR-BC. Having two facilitators in the room means more individual attention for every participant and a second set of caring eyes on the group process.
Supporting the next generation of art therapists is part of how we live out our value of Forever Growing, and our supervision structure means every group is guided by board-certified clinical oversight.
How to Join a Group
Questions about payment are welcome at any point in that process. Group cost is $20 per session, or $200 if you pay for the full 10-week series up front.
Reach out.
Call 412-945-0692 or email info@southhillscounseling.com and let us know which age group you are asking about.
Talk with our team.
We will ask a few questions about your child, what you are hoping they get out of group, and whether group is the right starting point.
Complete paperwork.
Intake forms are completed securely through our Client Portal before the first session.
Show up on week one.
Your child arrives, meets the group, and starts building. We will check in with you along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Art therapy focuses on the process of creating rather than the finished product, and there is no judgment of artistic ability, creativity, or aesthetics. Some participants arrive loving art and some arrive convinced they are bad at it. Both do well here.
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No. These groups are not limited to a specific diagnosis or presenting need. What we do look for is the ability to participate in a group independently, stay verbally and physically safe during the session, and follow basic group boundaries.
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Yes, and many do. Group work often reinforces what a child is practicing in individual sessions. If your child sees a therapist at South Hills, we can coordinate so the two work together.
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Every session follows the same general shape: art making, discussion, games, and time to reflect and share with peers. That predictability is intentional. When participants are not guessing what comes next, they have more energy for trying something new.
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Life happens. Let us know as soon as you can so the facilitators can plan. Because the series is designed as ten connected sessions, consistent attendance gives your child the most benefit, and the predictable weekly rhythm is part of what makes group work.
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Groups are offered at a flat rate of $20 per session, or $200 for the full 10 week series. Contact our office at 412-945-0692 with any questions about payment for group services.
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All three art therapy groups meet at our Bethel Park office at 101 Drake Rd., Suite E, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. Parking is free and the office is wheelchair accessible.
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We build groups around what our community needs. If you are interested in a group we are not currently running, tell us. That feedback is how new groups get started.
Ready to Find Your Child a Place in the Circle?
Small groups, warm facilitation, and room to grow. Spots are limited to five per group.
Call us at 412-945-0692, email info@southhillscounseling.com, or stop by 101 Drake Rd., Suite E in Bethel Park. We look forward to supporting your family on the pathway to wellness through growth.